The Best Way To Prune Jade Plants To Keep Them Happy And Healthy

Even the easiest houseplants need occasional maintenance. One such plant is jade (Crassula ovata), which comes in many shapes and sizes and is known for being an easy-to-grow houseplant. Successfully caring for a jade plant doesn't take much, and pruning is key to having a healthy, full plant.

If you want to create a bushier plant, start by assessing your jade to look for any dead or diseased matter or older shoots that do not produce many leaves. Using a pair of sharp, sterile pruning shears, you can cut these branches back all the way to the trunk. Shoots that are looking a bit sparse can be cut back by up to a third; just be sure to leave at least two pairs of leaves. You can also use the plant's dark brown branch rings as guides and cut along the rings with a 45-degree angle to prune leggy growth.

Once you are done with your big cuts, look for tip shoots. Pinch off the small leaves at the end of branches to encourage your plant to put more energy into growing horizontally instead of vertically. However, if bushier isn't better for you, we have more tips for you.

Jade will often make it easy to know when it's time for a trim. If it's beginning to look too top-heavy to stand on its own, your plant might need some pruning. If you are simply giving it a preventative trim, spring and summer are the best times to prune, as they are actively growing and will put out new shoots quickly. However, if your jade is looking a bit top-heavy in the middle of winter, don't worry. These tolerant plants will withstand a trim at any time of year.

Older jade may have drooping branches that threaten to topple the whole plant. You can cut these offenders back to about 3 inches before the branch bends, but be sure to spare a few leaves. Some people also prefer to prune to encourage specific growth patterns, such as tree-like or bonsai designs. If your goal is a taller plant, trim down the side shoots by about half their length. Whatever your goal, don't trim more than 20 to 30% of the plant or forget to give the plant a drink of water to help it recover. And remember, propagating jade plants is easy. So, don't be afraid to prune even if all you need is a cutting for a new plant.